18 Powerful Women To Watch On TV In 2017 To Inspire A Badass Year

While female representation on television should ultimately aim to portray complex women with varying levels of strength and vulnerability — it doesn't hurt to see ladies taking charge on the small screen. What powerful women on TV in 2017 will be inspiring young people and shaping pop culture? There are quite a few characters on new shows to be excited about, and I'm not just talking about the Beaches remake with Idina Menzel and Nia Long on Lifetime.

The past year been particularly good to us in terms of female characters on television, with Issa Rae finally getting an HBO series, Ginny on Pitch, everything about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Eleanor Shellstrop on The Good Place, MTV's Sweet/Vicious, and the return of Lorelai Gilmore. Mindy Kaling continues to dominate. You can expect the literal girl power to return when Nashville, Homeland, and Scandal pick back up in 2017 — to name a few. Samantha Bee's late night show also kept us sane and informed in 2016.

That said, here are a few women coming to television in 2017 who are definitely going to be your new obsessions. From ordinary women to goddesses and queens, this upcoming year is serving up some heroines who pack a punch in a multitude of ways.

1. Colleen Wing, Iron Fist

2. Captain Georgiou, Star Trek: Discovery

I was already way too excited for new Star Trek series, and the fact that Michelle Yeoh is playing a Starfleet Captain is just so much to handle. Knowing Bryan Fuller, there are likely more powerful female characters as yet to be announced.

3. Princess Elizabeth of York, The White Princess

4. Violet Baudelaire, A Series Of Unfortunate Events

She may not live in a magical or dystopian world, but the eldest Baudelaire orphan is just as resourceful and brave as any YA heroine. Her brother is the bookworm while she is the inventor, a refreshing twist that will hopefully inspire girls everwhere.

5. Zelda Fitzgerald, Z: The Beginning Of Everything

The iconic figure and writer will be portrayed by Christina Ricci in the Amazon series.

6. & 7. Betty and Veronica, Riverdale

They're kind of the original frenemies, but the CW's updated take on the Archie comics is sure to give these infamous ladies an updated edge as well.

10. Dorothy Gale, Emerald City

11. & 12. Bilquis and Media, American Gods

Another series from Bryan Fuller, the adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel is about literal gods. What's more powerful than that? Yetide Badaki as Bilquis/The Queen of Sheba and Gillian Anderson as Media are sure to warrant a few praises in 2017.

13. Robin Ellacott, Cormoran Strike

JK Rowling — sorry, Robert Galbraith, is known for their strong female characters. Strike's partner is no exception.

14. Rosaline, Still Star-Crossed

The title might change before this Shakespearean Shondaland series hits the airwaves, but you know it's going to feature a powerful female lead — and Romeo and Juliet's Rosaline is a great place to start.

15. Queen Victoria, Victoria

Women in history don't get much more powerful than this monarch.

16. & 17. Cameron and Sadie, Doubt

Laverne Cox and Katherine Heigl are two of the most powerful women in television in their own right. Put them in a series together, and watch out! Doubt also stars Dreama Walker from Don't Trust The B In Apartment 23.

18. Ashe Akino, Shots Fired

Finally, this event series from Gina Prince-Bythewood focuses on race, police violence, the media — with Sanaa Lathan starring as an investigator. Think, these are just a sampling of the fictional and historical orical women coming to television in 2017. That's not even counting the actors, television personalities, breakout surprises, athletes, and more. Powerful ladies are going to step up and make themselves known, and there's already so much to look forward to (on television) in 2017.